The Royal Fusiliers (City of
London Regiment)-Regimental district No.7-are comprised of the old 7th
foot. In 1685 a large regiment was formed, chiefly from the old London
Bands, and designated the Ordnance Regiment, receiving at the same time
the appellation of Royal Fusiliers. Their first service was at Walcourt,
then in the Irish wars consequent in Williams accession to the throne.
After this they joined the troops in Holland, where they experienced some
severe fighting. They were represented at Steenkirke; at Landen they fought
with unexampled courage, nearly all their officers being either killed
or wounded; for their gallantry in storming Namur they received the special
thanks for William. They took part in the Duke of Ormonds expedition
against Vigo, and in 1703 served as marines. Hurrying over the following
years-during which we note that the regiment served as marines on board
the fleet of the unfortunate Byng, which did not relieve Minorca-we come
to the era of the war in America and Canada, during which they experienced
some severe reverses, though throughout their consistent courage gained
them unqualified praise. In the defence of St. Johns a great number
were made prisoners they fought at Staten Island; at the capture
of Fort Clinton-where the troops, unsupported by artillery, crossed
ground swept by ten guns, and without firing a shot pressed forward to
the foot of the works, climbed over each others shoulders to the walls
and drove the enemy back-the 7th gained great distinction. At Cow
Pens, in December 1781, the regiment suffered severely from the unfortunate
repulse experienced by our troops under Colonel Tarleton; their colours
were taken, and many of their numbers killed and wounded. Shortly after
that they returned to England and were on duty in various places, being
for some rime under the command of the Duke of Kent, father of her present
Majesty. In 1807, they were with the forces dispatched against Copenhagen,
and a couple of years later under Colonel Packenham to Martinique. Here,
at the stubborn fight on the heights of Surirey, the Royal Fusiliers gave
striking evidence of their splendid fighting capacity. Meanwhile, the
2nd battalion of the regiment was with Wellesley in Portugal, and first
met the foe at Talavera. Here, we learn from the official Record, the
Royal fusiliers met the storm of war with unshaken firmness,
and succeeded in capturing seven guns. Both battalions were at Busaco;
where, however, they did not come in for very much actual fighting. After
a sharp skirmish at Burlada, the 7th and 23rd were formed into the famous
Fusiliers Brigade, under Pakenham, the command of the battalions being
given to Vigers and Blakeney. At Albuera, the account of the magnificent
charge of that Fusiliers Brigade still kindles into enthusiasm the most
listless and unemotional. The tide of war seemed turning steadily against
us: we had lost a whole brigade of artillery; a large number of
our men were prisoners; a deep gully prevented the English from using
their bayonets, and affairs wore a most unpromising appearance.
As the history of the Royal Fusiliers expresses it, a crisis had arrived,
and a mighty, a determined, a desperate effort alone could save the allied
from defeat. Sweeping onward in seemingly resistless force were three
columns of exultant French, supported by cavalry and artillery, each columns
mustering about twice the number of the force that was about to check
their insolent progress. That force was the Fusilier Brigade. In front
of the advancing French were their lancers surrounding our guns that they
had captured.

Their pride was short lived;
the stern, avenging British line swept them aside and recovered the guns,
then moved forward against the dense columns of the enemy. Such
a gallant line startled the enemys masses, which were increasing
and pressing forward as to an assured victory; they wavered, hesitated,
and then vomiting forth a storm of fire, hastily endeavoured to enlarge
their front, while the fearful discharge of grape from all their artillery
whistle through the British ranks. Myers was killed, other officers fell
wounded, and the Fusiliers battalions struck by the iron tempest reeled
and staggered like sinking ships. Suddenly and sternly recovering they
closed on their terrible enemies, and then was seen with what majesty
the British soldiers fight! Nothing could stop our astonishing infantry.
No sudden burst of undisciplined valour, no nervous enthusiasm weakened
the stability of their order, their flashing eyes were bent on the dark
columns in front, their measured tread shook the ground, their dreadful
volleys swept away the head of every formation, their defending shouts
overpowered the dissonant cries that broke from all parts of the tumultuous
crowd, as foot by foot, and with a horrid carnage, it was driven by the
incessant vigour of the attack to the edge of the hill. In vein did the
French reserves endeavour to sustain the fight. Their efforts only increased
the irremediable confusion, and the mighty mass, like a loosened cliff,
went headlong down the ascent. The rain flowed after in streams discoloured
with blood, and fifteen hundred unwounded men, the remnant of six thousand
unconquerable British soldiers, stood triumphant on the fatal hill
(Napier). Well may the record of the Royal Fusiliers assert that they
exceeded anything that the usual word gallantry can
convey. Thirty-two officers, thirty-four sergeants, six hundred
and thirty-eight soldiers, and express the loss in killed and wounded
the 7th sustained that day.

They fought again with great
credit at Aldea de Pont and at Ciudad Rodrigo, though in the latter operations
they were not largely engaged. At Badajoz it was Captain Mair of the 7th
who led the storming party against the Trinidad bastions, while others
of the regiment under Captains Cholwick attacked the breach in the curtain.
Two hundred and thirty-two were killed and wounded during the assault.
At Salamanca Captain Crowder gained the majority for dislodging, with
only two companies of the regiment, a force of five hundred Frenchmen
from a village they occupied. At Vittoria their position was against the
enemys centre, and materially assisted in the crushing defeat of
Josephs army; while, as evidence of the splendid state of discipline
which they had attained, it may be mentioned that amidst the dazzling
temptations which surrounded them, no case of that plundering on which
the British commander commented so severely was reported in the ranks
of the 7th. They fought in the battles of the Pyrenees, notably at Roncesvalles
and Villalba, on the Bidassoa and at Orthes. At Tolouse they were not
seriously engaged, and with this battle ended their glorious peninsular
record, for their services in the West Indies prevented their participating
in Waterloo. In the expedition against New Orleans, which, barren of profitable
result as it was, reflected nothing but credit on the troops engaged,
the Royal Fusiliers again distinguished themselves, at the same time incurring
considerable loss. From that time till the war with Russia in 1854 the
7th were not engaged in any warlike service. In the Crimea they were in
the Light Division under sir George Brown. Their splendid charge at the
Alma, under Lacy Yeo, will long be remembered-how in the teeth of a storm
of bullets they pressed on, though those who bore the colours were shot
down in terrible succession, and how Private Lyle of the regiment helped
Captain Bell to capture the Russian guns. At the famous sortie from Sebastopol
of the 26th October and at Inkerman they fought, and throughout the prolonged
siege acquitted themselves as might have been expected Jones gained the
V.C. for the dauntless way in which, despite receiving a wound in the
early stage of the fighting, he led his men to the numerous attacks, and
at the assault of the Redan Lieutenant Hope and Private Hughes gained
the same priceless decoration. In the following of September a non-combatant
officer of the regiment, Assistant-Surgeon Hale, gained another Cross
for his unremitting care of the wounded whom the heavy fire, which drove
all but himself and Lieutenant Hope away from the spot, could not induce
him to leave for a moment. During the Indian Mutiny the 7th were employed
in Scinde, and a few years later in the disturbances on the Northwest
Frontier. Passing over fifteen years, during which the history of the
7th was that any distinguished regiment in times of peace, we find the
next employed in the Afghan campaigns of 1878-80. In the sortie from Candahar
of 16th August, 1880, under General Brooke, the Royal Fusiliers were commanded
by Major Vandaleur,. The admirable courage and dash they displayed were
unable to prevent the effort from being a failure, a failure, moreover,
which cost the lives of Major Vandaleur and Lieutenants Wood and Marsh-two
gallant officers, mere lads,-and numbered Lieutenant de Trafford
amongst the wounded. But Lieutenant Case and Private James Ashford each
earned the Victoria Cross for rescuing a wounded comrade under a searching
fire. With Afghanistan ends the long roll of warlike achievements, which
are to be credited to the Royal Fusiliers. Extracted from Her Majestys
Armys

How Lieutenant Maurice James
Dease, Of The 4th Battalion The Royal Fusiliers Won The V.C. At Mons

On reaching Mons on August 22nd
1914, the part assigned to the British force was that of extending the
French line in a northwesterly direction. The line taken extended along
the line of the canal from Conde on the west, through Mons and Binche
on the east. From Conde to Mons inclusive was held by the Second Corps,
and on the right of the Second Corps from Mons the First Corps was posted,
while the 5th Cavalry Brigade was at great Binche. The forward reconnaissance
was entrusted to Brigadier-General Sir Philip Chetwode, with the 5th Cavalry
Brigade, and with the assistance of a few squadrons, sent forward by General
Allenby, most useful work was done. Several encounters took place, in
which the British showed to great advantage, and some of the squadrons
penetrated as far as Soignies. It was evident from the start that the
area, which covered the loop of the canal, had been marked down by the
enemy as the weakest point in the defence. If they succeeded in crossing
the canal close to the salient, the British would perforce have to abandon
the line of defence along the straight reach to Conde. For the time being,
therefore, it was resolved to confine all efforts to the salient. With
dawn on Sunday, August 23rd, came the first shell in the great battle
of Mons. The bombardment increased as the morning advanced, and when at
8 a.m. fresh batteries came into action, the first infantry attack was
launched against the Nimy Bridge, at the northwest corner of the canal
loop. The northern side of the canal, throughout the entire length covered
by the attack, is dotted with small fir plantations; and, screened by
these; the enemy poured a deadly fire from machine guns on our troops,
besides massing infantry attacks at whatever point they chose. With superior
numbers Von Kluck could afford to throw away life freely, and about nine
oclock four battalions were suddenly flung at the head of the Nimy
Bridge.

It was only defended by a single
company of the Royal Fusiliers, under Captain Ashburner, and a machine
gun in charge of Lieutenant Dease. As the enemy advanced in close column
their font sections collapsed under the deadly fire poured into them by
the British machine guns and rifles. They fell back in haste to one of
the plantations, and then after half an hour advanced in extended order.
The attack was checked, but not stopped. As Captain Ashburner was hard
pressed on the Nimy Bridge, Second Lieutenant Mead was sent with a platoon
to support him. He was at once badly wounded in the head; but after being
dressed, returned to the firing line, where in a few moments he was shot
through the head and killed. Captain Bowdon-Smith and Lieutenant smith
then came up with another platoon, but within ten minutes they were both
badly wounded. The position was now growing very desperate. Lieutenant
Dease had been hit three times while working his machine gun, Captain
Ashburner was wounded in the head, and Captain Forster, in a trench to
the right, had been shot through the right arm and stomach. Towards midday
the attack against the straight reach of the canal became general, and
the German infantry, coming out from the cover of the fir plantations,
worked their way to within a few hundred yards of the water, and from
the cover of the trees kept up a continuous rifle and machinegun fire.
They made no real advance, but when the Nimy salient was abandoned the
retirement of the troops to the left of it became imperative. This however,
was no easy matter. Before they reached cover they had to cross two hundred
and fifty yards of flat open ground, which was swept by a storm of shrapnel
and machinegun fire. Lieutenant Dease, who had stood by his gun all through,
was now quite unable to move, having been hit no less than five times.
Lieutenant Steele, who alone of the whole section was neither killed nor
wounded, caught him up and carried him from the fire zone to a place of
safety, and here he subsequently succumbed to his wounds. For the most
gallant part he took in the defence of the Nimy Bridge a posthumous award
of the V.C. was made. Extracted from 'Deeds That Thrill The Empire'

THOMAS ASHFORD (Private) Royal
Fusiliers

CHARLES FITZCLARENCE Captain,
Royal Fusiliers (Now Major, Irish Guards) The Victoria Cross was awarded
to this officer for three distinct acts of bravery during the siege of
Mafeking. On October 14th 1899, Captain FitzClarence, with hs squadron
of the Protectorate Regiment, which consisted of only partially trained
men who had not before been under fire, went out to render assistance
to an armoured train, sent out from the town. The Boers were numerically
far superior, and the position began to look very serious for the squadron,
who at one time wer completely surrounded. Captain FitzClarence, however,
handled his men in so splendid a manner, and inspired them with such confidence
by his calm bearing and personal courage, that they succeeded in relieving
the armoured train, and inflicted, besides, a severe loss on the enemy,
accounting for fifty killed and a great number wounded, the moral effect
of which had a most important bearing in later actions with the enemy.
Again, on October 27th 1899, he led a night sortie and attacked the enemys
trenches. A hand-to-hand combat ensued with the bayonet, and the enemy
were driven out with a great loss. He was the first in the trench, and
killed four Boers himself with his sword. Major-General R.S.S. Baden-Powell,
in command at Mafeking, reported that but for the personal bravery and
dash of this officer, the attacks would have been failures, with heavy
loss of life and prestige on our part as a result. On December 26th 1899,
Captain FitzClarence was conspicuous for the spirit, leading and bravery
during the action at Game Tree, near Mafeking, in ehich engagement he
was severely wounded through both legs. Born on May 8th 1865, Major FitzClarence
is the son of Captain the Hon. George FitzClarence, R.N., third son of
the first Earl of Munster. Educated at Eton and Wellington College, he
entered the Royal Fusiliers November 10th 1886, serving for some years
with the Egyptian Army, but the investment of Mafeking in which he so
greatly distinguished himself, was his first active service. In October
1900 he was transferred to the Irish Guards, being in the following month,
promoted Major by brevet, is a Staff College officer, and at present Major
of Brigade at Aldershot.

WILLIAM NORMAN (Private) 7th
Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) On the night of December 19th
1854, when placed on a single sentry duty a considerable distance in advance
of the others in the White Horse Ravine (a task requiring much courage
and vigilance, as the enemys picket was only 300 yards distant),
three Russians crept up under cover of brushwood to reconnoitre our position.
Without any noise, lest he should give the alarm, Private Norman went
stealthily towards them, and single-handed, captured two of them.

WILLIAM HOPE (Lieutenant) 7th
The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regeiment) Later Lieut. Col.
City of London A.V. On June 18th 1855, our troops were forced to retire
after the attack on the Redan. Lieutenant Hope, being informed by Sergeant
Major William Bacon that an officer, Lieutenant Hobson, had been severely
wounded and was lying outside the trenches, started off to search for
him, and found him in the old agricultural ditch running towards the left
flank of the Redan. He then went for assistance, and four men returned
with him, but he saw the officer could not be removed without a stretcher,
so went back across the open ground to Egertons Pit. Having been
able to secure what he needed, he again faced the rain of bullets, carrying
the stretcher, and was finally able to convey Lieutenant Hobson to shelter.
During the entire accomplishment of his humane action, the fire from the
Russian batteries was heavy and continuous. Colonel Hope, born April 12th
1834, is the son of the late Rt. Hon. John Hope. Educated at Hatefield
and Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Besides the heroic act related above he is
stated to have saved the lives of thousands of men on November 15th 1855,
by his personal exertions and heroic bravery in extinguishing the fire
in the roof of a magazine containing 160 tons of powder. He is the inventor
of the Shrapnel shell for rifled guns and many other improvements in was
material.

MATTHEW HUGHES (Private) 7th
of Foot, The Royal Fusiliers Colonel Campbell, 90th Light Infantry, specially
noticed the gallant conduct of Hughes on June 7th 1855 as the storming
of the Quarries. He twice went for ammunition across the open
ground, also going to the front and bringing in Private John Hampton,
who was lying wounded. On June 18th 1855, he volunteered to bring in Lieutenant
Hobson of his regiment, who had been shot, and in performing this humane
act was him severely wounded.

A
complete list of all the
Royal Fusiliers Victoria Cross Winners

Thanks to David Prince who sent in the list of VC's
belowCompiled and Edited by J P Kelleher 2010

Lt. Dease and Private Godley
awarded the first Victoria Crosses of World War One.

Lieut. Dease

Private Godley

Lieut. Dease and Private Godley share the distinction of having been awarded
the first Victoria Crosses of World War One. Their action took place on
the 23rd of August 1914 in the first major clash between the Germans and
British.

The 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers
had marched rapidly to Mons on the 22nd August and had taken up a position
along the line on the canal between Conde and Binche with Mons to their
rear. There were a number of crossing places on the canal, one of which
was the Nimy Bridge, which was allocated to a rifle company and a heavy
machine gun to hold.
Serious fighting started at dawn on the 23rd and by 8 a.m. with the canal
crossings under increasing artillery bombardment, the first German infantry
assault was launched and beaten off. Masses of Germans then fanned out
into the plantations opposite the Nimy Bridge and started to lay down
heavy rifle and machine gun fire. The Commanding Officer of the Royal
Fusiliers committed two further reserve platoons to the bridge area to
assist in the defence.

The vital ground for the Fusilier
Company was the sandbagged Maxim Machine Gun on the bridge which was able
to sweep the enemy on the far bank with sustained heavy fire. It was commanded
by Lt Dease who had been hit thrice in the early action, was severely
wounded. Seeing the need for more men to fire the gun Private Godley volunteered
and clambered into the gun-pit where he took over the weapon. Dease by
now had been hit five times and was in a critical condition but insisted
he had to stay with his command and help to target enemy and assist as
he could.

Godley was now single handed,
the remainder of the machine gun section dead or wounded. For a further
two hours he held the position with long bursts of fire, during which
he was wounded twice.

By 11a.m. it was clear that the
British could not hold the canal and preparations were made to withdraw
under fire. This is a difficult operation and is dependent on the outer
defence line holding until the last possible minute. A great deal of responsibility
therefore fell to Godley. The 4th Bn. Royal Fusiliers managed somehow
to get back across 250 yards of open ground into the town of Mons as Godley
fought on.

He finally ran out of ammunition
and with a final act of defiance, stripped down the machine gun and threw
the parts into the canal.

During the withdrawal Lt. Dease
was carried by his comrades to the edge of Mons where he died of his wounds.
Private Godley was captured and spent the rest of the war in a German
Hospital and then as a prisoner of war.